Uploaded September 2018 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Steve Hackett is adding many more strings to his e-bow with an 8-date UK tour, accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra (1/10/18 - 11/10/18). He spoke to Andy Rawll for Record Collector Magazine about how a one-off show in Boston last year led to this new run of dates and what audience can expect.
He also spoke about his musical influences and how he embraces the idea of 'music without prejudice', sourcing and featuring instruments and musicians from diverse cultures and climates to add exotic spice to his recent albums, such as 2017's acclaimed 'The Night Siren' and his next solo release, due in 2019.
He also discusses 'Broken Skies - Outspread Wings' the 6CD/2DVD box set that includes his albums from 1984's 'Till we have faces' to 2006's 'Wild Orchids'. It also includes two bonus DVDs, one including 2001's excellent 'Somewhere in South America' concert video and the other a selection of additional videos and a selection of 7 audio tracks from 'To watch the storms' and 'Wild Orchids' remixed in 5.1 surround sound. This package is released through InsideOut on 5/10/18.
He reveals his love for Beatles and for the blues, which reveals itself through his own accomplished harmonica playing, most prominent on
1994's 'Blues with a feeling'. As it happens, this is the only chronological omission from the 1984-2006 box set, as it is already enjoying its own resurrection and revitalisation with the recent standalone re-release (with two new tracks) via Cherry Red Records.
hackettsongs.com @hackettofficial
recordcollectormag.com @RecCollMag
Interview timeline
00:00 Intro - background to 8-date UK tour with 41-piece orchestra (1/10 - 11/10/18)
03:20 - Orchestral arrangement - originally scored for one-off Boston gig
04:23 - Picking the set-list - mainly Genesis plus El Nino; part of Shadow of the hierophant; dealing with the stress of the playing with an orchestra
08:38 - Any classical instrument he'd like to play. Empathy for strings
11:14 - The humble harmonica; learning from the greats (Larry Adler, Johnny Mars)
14:40 - Jack Bruce Tribute Concert and Nathan James
15:15 - Blues-based origins of many Prog bands (Floyd, Tull)
15:54 - Concerto for Harmonica and Orchestra
16:40 - Tour date recap
16:55 - Mid-period Solo album Reissue box set: six CDs (1984 - 2006)
19:00 - Beatles influence and embracing risk (new instrumental)
21:18 - New album 'music without prejudice'; Choral parts in Latin 'Queen meets the pope'
23:58 - Influence of Chris Squire and other prog bands
26:46 - 'Harmony for Elephants' charity record, featuring Steve, Anthony Philips and other Hackett alumni
28:40 - Recap and conclusion
Steve Hackett is adding many more strings to his e-bow with an 8-date UK tour, accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra (1/10/18 - 11/10/18). He spoke to Andy Rawll for Record Collector Magazine about how a one-off show in Boston last year led to this new run of dates and what audience can expect.
He also spoke about his musical influences and how he embraces the idea of 'music without prejudice', sourcing and featuring instruments and musicians from diverse cultures and climates to add exotic spice to his recent albums, such as 2017's acclaimed 'The Night Siren' and his next solo release, due in 2019.
He also discusses 'Broken Skies - Outspread Wings' the 6CD/2DVD box set that includes his albums from 1984's 'Till we have faces' to 2006's 'Wild Orchids'. It also includes two bonus DVDs, one including 2001's excellent 'Somewhere in South America' concert video and the other a selection of additional videos and a selection of 7 audio tracks from 'To watch the storms' and 'Wild Orchids' remixed in 5.1 surround sound. This package is released through InsideOut on 5/10/18.
He reveals his love for Beatles and for the blues, which reveals itself through his own accomplished harmonica playing, most prominent on
1994's 'Blues with a feeling'. As it happens, this is the only chronological omission from the 1984-2006 box set, as it is already enjoying its own resurrection and revitalisation with the recent standalone re-release (with two new tracks) via Cherry Red Records.
hackettsongs.com @hackettofficial
recordcollectormag.com @RecCollMag
Interview timeline
00:00 Intro - background to 8-date UK tour with 41-piece orchestra (1/10 - 11/10/18)
03:20 - Orchestral arrangement - originally scored for one-off Boston gig
04:23 - Picking the set-list - mainly Genesis plus El Nino; part of Shadow of the hierophant; dealing with the stress of the playing with an orchestra
08:38 - Any classical instrument he'd like to play. Empathy for strings
11:14 - The humble harmonica; learning from the greats (Larry Adler, Johnny Mars)
14:40 - Jack Bruce Tribute Concert and Nathan James
15:15 - Blues-based origins of many Prog bands (Floyd, Tull)
15:54 - Concerto for Harmonica and Orchestra
16:40 - Tour date recap
16:55 - Mid-period Solo album Reissue box set: six CDs (1984 - 2006)
19:00 - Beatles influence and embracing risk (new instrumental)
21:18 - New album 'music without prejudice'; Choral parts in Latin 'Queen meets the pope'
23:58 - Influence of Chris Squire and other prog bands
26:46 - 'Harmony for Elephants' charity record, featuring Steve, Anthony Philips and other Hackett alumni
28:40 - Recap and conclusion
